IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 8 ENGLISH | Page 133

Street fighters
Rudicel Batista
Freelancer
Manzanillo, Granma Province, Cuba

T

he title has nothing to do with street
fights or anything like that, but with
the daily struggle of Cubans, whether elder, handicapped, or African descendants, who are popularly called fighters because they go out to look for money in order
to survive in these times full of economic
needs and uncertainties. Down Martí Street,
a central artery in the city of Manzanillo,
several of them roam every day. Such characters are present throughout the rest of the
country. They are smart traders who try to
be incognito, but are illegal in the eyes of
the government while providing the ordinary
Cubans, accustomed to buy on the black
market, with the merchandise that the state
economy cannot offer. It seems illogical, but
that's Cuba. You sell anything that can
provide a minimum income for buying, at
the end of the day, a simple plate of food.
Such a food is far, very far, from what God
commands. Many fighters do not even have
a retirement pension. Those who enjoy it are
sunk in misery anyway, because the pension
is not enough to survive. So the retirees go
to the streets every day in order to earn a
living in the best way possible. They spend
all day in front of the state stores promoting
and selling their goods, ranging from plastic

bags to ball pens, noodles, razors, matches
and cigarettes. They are truly mobile shops,
always with the fear that the police, popularly known as casquitos, proceed to lead them
to the station, confiscate their goods, take
their money, and impose severe fines. All
this comes amid threats of bringing them to
justice. The repressive police force uses
bikes to patrol the city. Thusly, the police
work is easier and the law enforcement
agent can prevent the furtive vendors from
escaping. It's amazing the will, courage, and
tenacity that these illegal traders show by
seeking to survive both to police harassment, the marginalization, and even the
discrimination that haunts them wherever
they go, either by their skin color or social
status. These times are very difficult, A
normal economic livelihood presupposes
changes that are not on display. Each morning the street fighters leave their homes and
walk to the commercial establishments with
the firm intention of making a living without
panicking when the police arrives. After all,
they are honestly seeking a little money that
barely gives them something to eat in this
society full of difficulties.

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